Taxing The Internet The Bush Way

The U.S. Department of Justice, from which citizens can get every bit of justice they can afford, has taken time out from its most recent round of scandals to file an opinion letter with the Federal Communications Commission saying that it thinks networks should be able to charge an extra fee for content providers who want to have "faster and more reliable service" - which would of course mean that everyone else would get slower and less reliable service. The opposite course, which is currently in place, is called "network neutrality."

The DOJ claims that not permitting the extra fees "may leave broadband providers unable to raise the capital necessary to fund" broader bandwidth, adding that "Regulators should be careful not to impose regulations that could limit consumer choice and investment in broadband facilities."

Of course, all of the existing "buildout" was accomplished in a net-neutral environment, and according to a story on the Broadcasting & Cable news site, "The DOJ agreed with FCC chairman Kevin Martin and others that network-neutrality regulations would address a problem that has yet to be identified."